Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1887-10-26
Hon. N. B. smithers, 0ninion.

ne lover correspondent of the
hperg EUeaiag who has been Interview
ing the lawyers Of Dover on the uues
ton of Convention thus reports the
Nestor of the Dover bar:
Hon. n. B. Smithers was next Wis
tied at his home on State street, and.
though the hour was late, he received
the correspondent cOurte0usly and in
vlted him into his study. / believe
said he, that radical changes in our
constitution are necessary and Il CON
ventiop is the best mode of obtaining
them, 1t is no new thing with me or
the Republican party. That marty has
proclaimed constitutional reform as
part of its creed for years. But and
The venerable counsellor spoke earnest
ly, party as such should have no voice
or part in this movement. Citizen
ship should be appealed to and that
alone. If the people of Delaware have
not the dignity, the manliness to rise
above party affiliations in this matter
they had better hold a convention
Party politics should not enter it at ali
and it ! am living when this conven-
ton Is held, and have the privilege of
taking part in its deliberations. I
would not remain a member of it two
days, if party politics entered into its
discussions. This is a question that
affects the organic law of our State
not its politics--and every citizen
should treat the subject as he would
MS own private business, What
specific changes do deem necessary {?
That is question which should not
and cannot enter into the subject at
this stage. After a convention has
been decided upon that question will
be for the convention to decide. The
simple questions now are Are changes
necessary? If so, how can we best
obtain them? Can this matter be rails.
ed above the plane of ordinary marty
politics if left to be dealt with bv the
Legislature? Can it not be better com
posed of select body ofmen who are
chosen because of their integrity and
purity! Is not this about the only
way that our organic law can be re-
modelled Let us look at some of the
questions that would likelyarise. We
have three functions of government
the executive, the judicial. the leoielo-
i've. should these three be krp, sep
crate and DISTINCT? At present Inc
executive appoints the judicial. and
the Legislative pays them. If they
are to be separated, how? Could not
this question be better determined NV
select body of men, chosen for this
special purpose, than by an ordinary
Legislature elected on party or faction.
al IssuesY If your judges are to hold
lot term, either appointed or elected
what shall that term be? Shall vour
county officers be appointed or elected9
All these questions will come IN. must
come up Can they be better deter
mined by a political legislature than
oy a select body of men chosen for
Chis special purpose, and into whose
seieetlon party politics do not enter
again, are your members of the Le0is-
lature properly chosen? Is every nor.
ton of the State properly represented
IN the legislative branchY IF NOT ~,
Do ypu propose to lemedy it? The
hieP l party had grasped this sub
J cCC III It's convention as far back rs
Iooo' when New Castle county was al
ioWed ou delegates in the State couven.
tion out OF 10. Later the State was
divided into four districts, New Cas,Ie
county being divided into two. This
question of representation must no
met, and in some intelligent and inst
manner a man in New Castle connt,,
must be made the equal Of a man in
Kent. Can this be done better nv a
Legislature elected on political issues
IMAM by convention ofmen selected
as | have suggested? These questions
ana Others not enumerated will come
up and must be analysed, but tbev
should not enter into this preliminory
step. The people are now to eonsidcy
whether changes in the constitution
are necessary not what particular
changes, but change, and wbetber
these changes should be made bv n con.
ventlon. viii Republicans peneraIlv
IN TINS county vote for the measures
think so; believe so ; 90 out Of ever,
I0O OF them. But, they should not ~
Republicans but as citizens. The al.
Vocates OF the convention should m.
peal TO the voters solely rs citizens
faf'y politics have no place in this con.
TEST: am in favor Of convention
a am IA iavor OF remodeling our constitn.
tlon IN several OF its important featnres
ana iirm believer in the fact tbot .
properly constituted convention Il the
only place IN which the changes shonId
OF can be justly made"